The King’s Guard is a well-known group that performs sentry duty outside Buckingham Palace.
Their primary role is to protect the monarch and the official royal residences in the UK. These soldiers, formally known as the Queen’s Guard, are expected to stand still and remain expressionless, even in the face of tourists’ interest.
To become a member of the King’s Guard, recruits must pass the British Army Recruit Battery (BARB) test. As of 2024, the average salary for a UK soldier is £23,496. However, pay can vary, with an infantryman’s annual salary being £18,687 compared to the average Army Officer salary of £37,425.
Members of the King’s Guard are expected to strictly adhere to rules such as not grinning or laughing, an infraction of which could result in a £200 fine. Additionally, they are not generally allowed to talk to members of the public, although there are exceptions in certain circumstances.
Most commonly, these guards are associated with their ceremonial duties at Buckingham Palace. They consist of soldiers from The Grenadier Guards, The Coldstream Guards, The Scots Guards, The Irish Guards and The Welsh Guards. The iconic bright red tunics and bearskins they wear have become a recognizable symbol of London.
A typical day in the life of a member of the King’s Guard involves early starts and detailed rehearsals, as they are heavily scrutinized and photographed by visitors. They must continue their duties regardless of the weather, rain making their bearskins heavier and hot weather posing a higher risk of heat stroke.
Guards are on duty for 24 or 48 hours and work in shifts of two hours on sentry duty with a four-hour rest. New guards take over after the shift, although they can be on their feet for six hours at a time.
The official Changing of the Guard ceremony usually occurs every day from June to July. Crowds gather to watch this iconic ceremonial display from guards at the Royal Barracks and St. James’ Palace.
You can see the Changing of the Guard ceremony on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays between August and May.
Overall, the King’s Guard is not just ceremonial, they are actual soldiers who perform a crucial duty of protecting the royal residences in the UK.
